The chief executive of the North-west Development Agency has said that “probably 10%” of the schemes it funds will have their cash delayed as it reassesses its spending programme.
The news comes as NWDA bosses prepare for a meeting next Tuesday with the North-west regional assembly.

The assembly will ask them to explain how the agency over-allocated its £400m budget by millions of pounds (HT 12 March, page 7).

A source close to the regional assembly said: “We want to call them to account. They’ve got to explain themselves for the reported budget problems.

“We urgently need to make sure the region’s priorities aren’t damaged by this.”

Steve Broomhead, the NWDA chief executive, would not confirm how many of its 2000 schemes would be affected but said it was “probably 10%”.

The agency has decided which schemes would get funding immediately and which will have to wait until next year, but has not yet yet informed those affected.

Broomhead said: “I’ve personally carried out an audit of these schemes and we’ve had to take some firm decisions. We can’t fund every scheme brought to us.”

The NWDA has now agreed its £1.4bn budget for the next three years, with the aim that schemes not funded this year will be funded in the next two years.

Source

Housing Today